Chelsea co-owners to sell stake as Behdad Eghbali move for total control

It’s set to be a new dawn at Chelsea as Todd Boehly prepares to offload his minority stake in the Premier League giants.

Boehly and Mark Walter are reportedly on the verge of cashing out at Chelsea. Talks have accelerated in recent weeks, with majority shareholders Clearlake Capital poised to buy out the American duo’s minority stakes, .

Clearlake, led by Behdad Eghbali and Jose E. Feliciano, currently holds a 61.5 per cent share in the Blues. The remaining 38.5 per cent is split evenly between Boehly, Walter, and Swiss billionaire Hansjorg Wyss. If successful, this internal buyout would give the investment firm near-total authority over the west London club.

The BlueCo consortium purchased Chelsea from Roman Abramovich in May 2022 for £2.5 billion, pledging a further £1.75bn in investment. However, behind-the-scenes tension has grown, with Boehly and Eghbali reportedly clashing over the club’s sporting direction and a potential redevelopment of Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea co-owner Behdad Eghbali (second left), sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart during a Premier League match. (Photo by Mike Egerton/PA Images via Getty Images)

While previous negotiations reportedly stalled over valuations, Walter is now set to make a profit on his initial investment. A spokesperson for the 66-year-old confirmed to Bloomberg that an agreement is drawing closer.

“This potential transaction values Mark Walter’s stake in Chelsea Football Club at a premium to his initial investment and is another successful sports investment for him,” the spokesperson stated. “After this exit, Mr. Walter intends to make future sports-related investments.”

The representative also clarified that the American businessman was not the driving force behind the impending sale. “Walter did not initiate the proposed transaction to sell his interest, which has been in the works for quite some time,” the statement concluded.

Boehly served as the original face of the 2022 takeover and operates as club chairman. However, Eghbali has become the most hands-on figure in the boardroom, frequently liaising with the sporting directors and attending matches at home and away.